Planoqrapit co



A. B. FowLER. PUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1915.

Patented July 8, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l THB COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPN co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. B. FowLER.

l PUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 1915.

Patented July 8, 1919.

A'. B. FOWLER.

PUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APn.24. 1915.

1,308,780. Patented July 8, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

WVM/70H /SJ A. B. FOWLER.

PUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APH. 24. |915.

Patented July 8, 1919.

4 SHEES-SHEET 4.

` including certain details of construction and of them 4have curved edges.

4unrrnn STATES PATENT onnren.

ALFRED B. FOWLER, BEVERLY, MASSACHSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- `lVlENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORIORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,`

A. CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

PUNCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed April 24, 1915. serial No. 23,690.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. FowLER, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in PunchingMachines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to punching machines and is herein illustrated in connection with a machine for forming an ornamental row of punch holes or perforations along the margin of pieces of upper leather which are to be used in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

The pieces of leather which are ornamented are of different contours and 'many Hitherto in machines of this class the direction of the feed movement of the machine has been fixed; and the operator has turned the stock manually when ai curved margin was encountered. It is very difiicult, however, when this procedure is carried out to secure uniform spacing of the perforations.

One feature of the present invention comprises in a machine of the class described a tool for operating upon the stock, means for feeding the stock past the tool, and means for varying the direction and extent of the lfeed during the operation of the machine. In the illustrative machine each intermittentl feed'movement of the `feeding members starts always at thesame point,

leather and "serves to receive the punches and cause them to cutclean holes. Another feature of the invention comprises improved feeding means for this backing strip.

These and other features of the invention combinations of parts will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims. Referring to the accompanying drawings,-

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig.'2 is a perspective of the mechanism for operating the punch and the feed members;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the yfront of the machine;

` Fig. 4 is a plan of the mechanism which controls the direction of feed movement, the parts being shown with the lower feed member at one extremity of'its movement;

Fig. 5 is a plan similar to that of Fig. 4C and with the lower feed member shown at its opposite extremity of movement;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of part of the head of the machine;

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing more particularly the connection between the link 39 and fulcrum block 10;

Fig. 8 is an elevation ofthe reel stand; Fig. 9 is a sidefelevation of a portion of this reel stand, showing more particularly its connection with the feed mechanism of the punching machine;

Fig. 10 is a detail showing the construction of the members which grip and feed the stock.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the stock is fed over a table 1 above which a punch 3 is reciprocated by means of a cam 5 fast to a driving shaft 11 and two rolls 17 which latter are mounted upon the punch holder or stem 9. 'The particular clutch mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which imparts rotation to the shaft 11 will not be described since the details of its construction form no part of the present invention and any suitable means for applying power to the shaft 11 may be employed. lThe upper feed member 13 is slidable in a casing 15 having an arm 17 which ispivoted at 19 to a slide bar 21 mounted in suitable slide bearings in the head of the machine. The stem 23 of the'feed member, which is of reduced diameter, is surrounded by a coiled spring 25 one end of which restsv against the feed member and the other end against the slide bar 21 so as to hold the said member down against a lower feed member which will be described presently. A lever having a linger piece 26 is provided for lifting the feed member 13 manually when desired. The stem 23 passes loosely through an arcuate slot (not shown) formed in an enlargement 210 at the end of the slide bar 21 as well as through a second arcuate slot 27 formed in the enlarged end of an actuating lever 29 and has threaded upon its upper end adjusting nuts 31. The two arcuate slots are concentric with the -axis ofthe pivot 19, and thecasin'g 15 and presserffoot 13 are free at all times to swing in a ypath determined by the location of the pivot 19.

1n order to give areciprocating feed movement to the upper feed member 13 'the slide bar 21 is reciprocated by the following mechanism: Pivoted at 33 to said bar is a link 35 to `v`the other end `of 'which is pivoted at 37 an upwardly extending link 39, said link being slidablethrough `-a Vsuitable bearing in a fulcrum block 40 which may be adjusted up and'down by means of a lever' 41 to vary the location ofthe fulcrum. Any suitable form of bearing by which a link may slide through a fulcrum block maybe u`sed,the particular one employed in `the present machine being shown in detail in Fig. 7. The lever 39 is ypivoted at 43 to a bar 45 slidalble transversely of the shaft 11 and provided with rolls 47 which embrace a cam 49 `on said shaft. This mechanism imparts reciprocationto the slide bar 21 and hence to the upper feed member 13. This feed member is lifted intermittently by the lever 29 which is pivoted near its center at 51 to an ear on the slide bar 21 and at its "outer end lto alink53 which in turn is pivoted at 55' to a bell -crank lever the end of 'the'ihori'zontal arm of `which is shown at 57. Theaipright arm V58' of this lever (see Fig. 6) carries a roll 60 which is held in contact wit-ha cam 59 on the shaft 11 by'a spring as shown. With "the con'- struction thus far 'described the feed member 13 will be given the usual four-motion feed movement. ever, ithat 'the member is "free at the -same time to move in apath at an angle lto :the direction fof movement of the slide 21"-in that it may swing about the pivot 19.

The lower feed member comprises va loop 61 thepurpose of which is vtoguide a :paper backing strip such `as'that shown, for example, in the 'patent `to Flynt No. 941,7 04. Ontop of the loop is a circular member63 which "contacts with the under 'side of the stock; and 'depending `from the loop is a stem 63 which extends through 4a'n arcuate slot 65 formed in an enlarged portion of the slide bar 67. Said stem vis connected with its slide vbar 67 'by ya link'69'which is pivotedlat 71 to the slide bar,`said 'link corresponding 'in function to the arm 17 which It should be noted, 'howconnects the casing 15 of the upper feed member with the upper slideI bar 21. 1t will be noted that the axis of the4 pivots 19 and 71 is the ysame and that both the upper and the lower feed members arecapable of swingingabout this axis during the reciprocation of the slide bars 21 and 67.

In order to determine the direction of movement 'of the lower feed member and to vary said direction during the operation of the machine in accordance with whether a straight or a curved edge is being operated upon, af guide link 73 pivoted at 75 to the frame of the machine embraces a roll 77 carrieda't the lowerend of the stem 63. The position `in which this guide link is held thus determines the Vdirection in which the lower feed member shall move and hence also the direction `in which the upper feed member shall move since the two feed members are pressed toward'eaeh other by the spring 25 of the upper feed member. Fast to or integral with fthe link 73 is an'ear 79 which is connected'by 4a link S1 with a lever 83 fulcrumed at 85 `upon 'the machine frame and having `ay handle 183. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 the effect of-changing the position'of thiisguide link 73 will be clear. In Fig. 4 the slide bar 67 is shown at the forward limit of its reciprocation, the parts being in the same position as that vshown in Fig. 3. In Fig. v5 `the slide bar 67 is shown at "the rear limit of its reciprocatioir Therefore with the link 73 kheld in the position shown thelower feed member. will move Y backand forth in av direction determined by the position of said link 7 3. The link will be held in the position shown when the margin of the work has a `curvature 0f a certain radius. If now itv should be desired to operatel upon `a :straight margin the link 73 would be swung about its pivot 7 until the center of the'slot in said link was parallel to the axis of the slide bar 67.

The slide bar 67 lis reciprocated by a fork S7 ithe -arm's Aof which embrace al block 89 pivoted at 91 Vto said slide b'ar. This fork isV fast to a rock shaft 93 which carries a slotted arm'95 connected by a link 97 with a second slotted arm 99 pivoted at its inner end at 101 to the frame ofthe machine aiid at vitsouter end at 103 to a fiat rod 105 carrying rolls 107 which embrace a cam 109 fast 'to the shaft 11. Rotation of the shaft 11 thus oscillates the rock sha-ft 93, the amplitude of oscillation depiding upon the position in vwhich the link 97 is held. This link'slides through a block 111 fast to the end of a stud'shaft 113 rotatable in fixed bearings inthe frame of the machine; and the angular position of the block determines the amplitude of oscillation of the shaft 93. Thus the positionsofthe two blocks 111 and 40 determine respectively the extent of the feed movements of the lower and the upper feed members. Obviously it is desirable that `the two feed members should move to 'thesame extent and that when the extent of movement of,` one is varied the extent of movement of the other should be varied an equal amount. For this reason the lever 41,

`which governs the position of the fulcrum block 40 vis fast to one end of a rock shaft 115l the other end of which carries a sector 117 having teeth.which mesh with theteeth of a second sector 119 fastto the stud shaft 113. Consequently when theY lever 41 is moved to vary the extent of feed of the uppe'rfeed member 13, the shaft 115 is rocked and y the block 111 moved angularly to change the position of the link 97 and thereby the extent of feed movement of the lower feed member, theparts of the mechanism being s0 constructed and arranged that the extent of forwardand backward movementof the H feed members is always equal. The lever 41 is clamped in adjusted position by means Y' of, a thumb screw 120 as best shown in Fig. `6.

Referring now more particularly to Figs'.

'4 and 5 and disregarding for the moment the'paper backing strip 62, the operation of the machine is as follows: Let it be supposed f that a pieceof leather 300 having a straight edge followed `by a curved edge 1s to be opera-ted upon. The handle 183 of the lever '83 is moved to bring the slot in the guide link 73 into line with the slide rod 67. Reciprocationv of the slide rod 67 will .then cause y reciprocation of the` lower feed member in i according to the nature of the curve.

the same direction and the leather will be fed intermittently straight ahead. y When the curved edge of the leather is reached the handle 183 is moved to the right or the Aleft In Figs. 4 and 5 it is shown as moved to its extreme lefthand position as viewed in Fig. 2

with the guide link 73 extendingat approximately to the axis of the slide bar 67.

` The path of the lower feed member will be e or to the left. It shouldbe noted that each intermittent feed, whatever its direction, always starts from the same point, this point being located as near as practical to the axis of the punch with the result that the spacing between the punched holes is substantially uniform. The upper feedmember by reason `of. the action of the spring 25 follows `the movements ofthe lower feed member in every case. f1 If desired` a guide link for the `upper member similar to the guide link 73 maybeprovided although in the present l i, machine it has not been considered desirable. p

If the upper and lower feed members which grip. the stock were each integral throughout, it would be impracticable for the operator to turn the stock at all by hand. Such turning is, however, desirable at times particularly when an irregular curve is encountered. For this reason the disk 68 (see F ig. 10)` of the lower feed member is rotatably mounted and supported 0n balls 20, and the upper feed member is furnished with a similar disk 14, similarly mounted. The movements -of the feeding mechanism and punch are so timed that the stock is engaged by the feed mechanism or the punch at all times; and this construction and arrangement has the advantage that no presser foot such for example as that shown in the patent to Flynt referred to above is required.

Referring now t-o Figs. 3, 8 and 9 the manner in which the paper backing stri is fed forward and wound upon a reel wil be described. A vreel stand 121, see Fig. 8, carries a stud 123 upon which is rotatably mounted a reel carrier 125, Said reel carrier in turn having two studs 127, 129 upon which are mounted reels 131, 133, the studs 127, 129 being rotatable in their respectivev bearings 135, 137. Studs 127, 129 have fast to their inner ends gears 139, 141 either of which may be caused to mesh with a gear 143 which is fast to a short shaft 145. rFhe hub of a sprocket wheel 147 is held betweenv a friction washer 149 and the bearing 153 by means of a coiled spring 151 one end of which rests against said bearing and the other against an adjusting nut 155 threaded on the shaft. A chain 157 passes around a sprocket wheel 159 and around the sprocket wheel 147 so that when the wheel 159 is rotated intermittently by mechanism presently to be described the gear 141 is turned in a direction to wind the backing strip on the reel 133 and to unwind it from the reel 131. From the reel 131 the backing strip runs over the pulley 161 and then through suitable guiding apparatus, which may be similar to that shown in the patent to Flynt referred to above which directs it `over the punch block `and back over the pulley 185 to the reel 133 `upon which it is wound. The paper strip is fed by means of a gripper 163, see Fig. 3, the lower end of which is pivoted to the sli-de bar 67 and the upper end of which carries an arm 165 which bears upon the paper strip, a weak spring 167 being fastened at one end to the gripper 163 and at the other end to the slide bar 67. Vit-h this construction the rate of feed of the paper backing strip will always be equal to the rate of feedof the leather; and in order to make the rate at which the strip is wound up approximately equal to the rate of feed, the

sprocket 159, see Fig. 9, is turned intermittently by the reciprocating slide bar 67 in the following manner: Pivoted upon the shaft 169 of the Sprocket wheel is an arm 171 that which results from. the increasing `Isize,

of the roll of paperron thefreel133, such slippage easily taking, place by reason of the manner in Which thev hub of the sprocket Wheel 147 is held. The paper back-ing strip in machines of this kind may y-be usedseveral times; and in the .present construction provision is made ,for moving the empty reel into the 4place of the ful-lione and vice versa. To this end the 'bearings-135, 137 are provided With shallovsT sockets 181 either of which may receive the end, of a spring pressed locking pin 183. After the strip has been unvvound from the reel l131 and Wound upon the reel'133, Ithe spring ypin 183 is raised and the reel ,carrier 125 rotated 180"` until the gear 139 miesheswith the gear 143 and 1the end vof the pin 183 enters the socket 181.V The end ofthe ,paper strip is thcn passed around a pulley 161, through suitable guiding members and then back around the pulley 185 and fastened to the reel 1,31. Op-

y eration of the Winding apparatus will then unwind the strip from the reel 133 and Wind it upon the reel 131. l

In order 4to permit adjustment of` Vthe punch 3 longitudinally tWo cams 190 and 191 are provided as shown in Fig. 1, the cam 191 carrying a pin 195 by 'which it may be turned,` and being heldin adjusted `position by a screw-bolt 193.

Although the invention yhas been set forth in connection with a particular machine it should be understood Vthat the invention is not limited in the scope-of its application to the'particular machine shown and described.

Having thus described 'my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the. United States: y

1. A machine for forming a row-of punch holes in a piece of stock, having, in combination, a support yfor the stock, a punch, means for reciprocatingthe punch,means for `feeding the stock intermittently past the punch, and means under control of the operator for varying the direction of the intermittent feed movements during the operationofthe machine, said feeding means being constructed and yarranged to start eachv feed movement always atlthe same point close to the axis of the punch, whereby vthe spacing of the punch holes in curved rows is 4substantially uniform.

A machine for forming a roW of `punch holes vin apiece of stock, having, in combination,.a support fora piece of stock, a punch,- means for reciprocatingj the punch,.means for feeding the stock intermittently past thek punch, meansfforA varying the direction of the intermittent feed movements, and means` forvaryfing theextent of said movements.

3.. A machine for forming a roW of punch holes in a piece of stock, having, in combination, -a'support for apiece of stock, a punch, means for reciprocating the punch, means for feeding; the stock Ipast thepunch, said feeding lmeans being `constructed and arranged to start each feed movement at a predetermined point close to the axis of the punch, and means yundercontrol-of the operator forv varying both the direction and the extent of the feedmovements While `maintaining `the location voflsaid starting lpoint unchanged.

4. A machine ffor'forming a row, of punch holes ina piece'of stock, having, iii-combination, a support for-a pieceof stock, va punch, means for reciprocating the punch, means for feeding the stock intermittently past the punch, said feeding means comprising gripping members constructed `andarranged to permit angular-movement ofthe stock about the point engagedy by ,said members, and means for producing kangular .movement ofthe stock.

5. machine V'for' forming va row of punch holesin a piece ofstock, having, in combina-v tion,a support for a pieceof stock, a punch, means for reciprocating the punch, means for feeding 'the stock intermittently past the punch, said feedingmeans comprising gripping members-movable about an axis-Which extends at. right angles to the plane of the support, `and means lfor producing :angular movement of the stock.

6. Axmachine-of the class described having, in combination, a support .for a `piece of stock, a tool for operating upon said stock, `and feed mechanism comprising a reciprocating slidefbar, a` feed member connected -with said bar `but capable of movement at an angle to the directionof reciprocation of 'said bar, a stationary guide for controlling 'the direction of movement of said feed member,and means for adjusting the .position of said j guide.

V7. A lmachine ofthe class described Vhaving, `in combination, a support for a piece ofv stock, 'a tool for operating upon said stock, and feed'mechanism comprising a reciprocating slide bar, a lfeed member, alink connecting said barand feed member Whereby movement ofsaid bar causesmovement of said member, and afguide link connected with said member but notfvvith said bar, saidV guide link being adjustable `to vary thev direction of movement of said feed memberA 8. Amachine ofthe class described havi ing,

l ilo stocleand mechanism for feeding said stock ,past said tool, said feed mechanism comprising an upper and a lower slide bar each having any opening therein, an upper and a lower feed member, the stems of said members passing respectively through said openings, links connecting saidmembers to said bars, a guide.member for one of said feed members, and means for holding said guide v`member in dierent angular positions with respect to said slide 'bars to cause said feed members to be swung by said links when said slide bars are reciprocated.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a piece of stock, a tool for operating upon said stock,

- means for feeding the stock past the tool,

and means for feeding a backing stri-p beneath said stock, said last named means comprising a reel stand, two reels mounted thereon, and means connected with said stock feeding means for frictionally driving one of said reels.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a piece of stock, a tool for operating upon said stock,

means for feeding the stock past the tool and means for feeding a backing strip beneath lsaid stock, said last named means comprising a reel stand, a reel carrier pivotally mounted thereon, two reels on said reel carrier, a gear connected with each reel, a frictionally driven gear carried by said stand, and means for holding` the gear of either reel in mesh with said driven gear.

-1l. yA machine of the class described, having in combination, a support for a piece of stock, a tool past which the stock is fed and means for feeding a backing strip bcneath said stock, said last-named means coinprising a reel stand, a frame pivoted to said stand, tivo reels mounted on said frame, and a driving inem'bcr into operative relation to which either reel may be swung.

12. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a support for a piece of stock, a tool past which the stock is fed and means for feeding a backing strip beneath said stock, said last-named means comprising a reel stand, a frame pivoted to said stand, two reels rotatably mounted in said frame at points equidistant from said pivot, gears connected with said reels, a driving gear located in position to be capable of meshing with either of the reel gears, and means for holding the frame in position to maintain such meshing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALFRED B. FOWLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

